第53部分(第2/8 頁)

ate　the　nose　or　the　penis　of　a　shitheels　like　you。　They'd　do　it　just　so　someone　they　care　for　could　get　an　extra　three　hours　in　the　exercise　yard　each　week。〃

Percy　had　stopped　shaking　his　head。　Now　he　was　only　staring。　Tears　stood　in　his　eyes；　but　didn't　fall。　I　think　they　were　tears　of　rage　and　frustration。　Or　maybe　I　just　hoped　they　were。

〃Okay　…　now　look　on　the　sunny　side；　Percy。　Your　lips　sting　a　little　from　having　the　tape　pulled　off　them；　I　imagine；　but　otherwise　there's　nothing　hurt　but　your　pride　。。。　and　nobody　needs　to　know　about　that　but　the　people　in　this　room　right　now。　And　we'll　never　tell；　will　we；　boys？〃

They　shook　their　heads。　〃Course　not；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Green　Mile　business　stays　on　the　Green　Mile。　Always　has。〃

〃You're　going　on　to　Briar　Ridge　and　we're　going　to　leave　you　alone　until　you　go；〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　want　to　leave　it　at　that；　Percy；　or　do　you　want　to　play　hardball　with　us？〃

There　was　a　long；　long　silence　as　he　considered。

I　could　almost　see　the　wheels　turning　in　his　head　as　he　tried　out　and　rejected　possible　counters。　And　at　last；　I　think　a　more　basic　truth　must　have　overwhelmed　the　rest　of　his　calculations：　the　tape　was　off　his　mouth；　but　he　was　still　wearing　the　straitjacket　and　probably　he　had　to　piss　like　a　racehorse。

〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　consider　the　matter　closed。　Now　get　me　out　of　this　coat。　It　feels　like　my　shoulders　are　…　〃

Brutal　stepped　forward；　shouldering　me　aside；　and　grabbed